Every club's farm system, ranked

Typically, our midsesason look at farm systems is a really exciting and dynamic exercise. We do it after the Trade Deadline and take all deals, Draft picks and four months’ worth of performances into consideration when we re-rank. We at MLB Pipeline were also particularly excited because we just expanded to ranking all 30 farm systems during this past offseason.

Still, it is interesting to see how teams have improved or not given the limited timeframe. There was only one Top 100 player traded during the Deadline season that just passed, so that didn’t change our rankings all that much. Teams that were able to add an impact prospect in the Draft moved up, while organizations that had top-level prospects graduate fell in the rankings a bit.

When looking at the previous rankings listed with each team, remember that we ranked only the top 10 systems through the 2019 preseason rankings, then expanded to top 15 at midseason in 2019 before including all 30 organizations prior to the 2020 season.

• Top 100 Prospects

1. Tampa Bay Rays
2020 preseason rank: 1
2019 midseason rank: 2
2019 preseason rank: 2
Top 100 Prospects: Wander Franco, SS (No. 1), Brendan McKay, LHP/DH (No. 16), Vidal Brujan, 2B/SS (No. 48), Xavier Edwards, 2B/SS (No. 76), Shane Baz, RHP (No. 98)

The Rays’ system hasn’t changed much since we released our preseason rankings, so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that they still hold the top spot on our updated list. No. 1 overall prospect Wander Franco headlines the team’s Top 100 prospects core, and the additions of two premium Draft talents in right-hander Nick Bitsko and shortstop Alika Williams give the organization even greater depth at premium, up-the-middle positions as well as on the mound.

2. Detroit Tigers
2020 preseason rank: 5
2019 midseason rank: 6
2019 preseason rank: 10
Top 100 Prospects: Spencer Torkelson, 3B/1B (No. 7), Casey Mize, RHP (No. 8), Matt Manning, RHP (No. 25), Riley Greene, OF (No. 31), Tarik Skubal, LHP (No. 49)

Four of Detroit’s five Top 100 prospects are former first-round picks after the team selected Torkelson with the No. 1 overall pick in June. What’s more, all six hitters drafted by the Tigers this past June now rank among the club’s Top 30 prospects, giving the formerly pitching-heavy system balance it had previously lacked.

3. San Diego Padres
2020 preseason rank: 2
2019 midseason rank: 1
2019 preseason rank: 1
Top 100 Prospects: MacKenzie Gore, LHP (No. 5), CJ Abrams, SS (No. 26), Luis Patiño, RHP (No. 28), Luis Campusano, C (No. 53), Robert Hassell III, OF (No. 84)

No team improved its Major League roster more at the Trade Deadline than the Padres, and they did so while maintaining five of their six Top 100 prospects. And even though the organization did deal seven players from its Top 30 Prospects list (and numerous cost-controlled big leaguers) ahead of Monday’s Trade Deadline, it still has plenty of young, high-ceiling talent in the pipeline.

4. Seattle Mariners
2020 preseason rank: 9
2019 midseason rank: 11
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Jarred Kelenic, OF (No. 12), Julio Rodriguez, OF (No. 19), Emerson Hancock, RHP (No. 37), Logan Gilbert, RHP (No. 42), Evan White, 1B (No. 58), Taylor Trammell, OF (No. 59)

An already-rich farm system has gotten even better with the additions of 2020 first-rounder Emerson Hancock and the trade that brought Taylor Trammell into the fold.

5. Miami Marlins
2020 preseason rank: 4
2019 midseason rank: 4
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Sixto Sánchez, RHP (No. 24), JJ Bleday, OF (No. 29), Max Meyer, RHP (No. 40), Jazz Chisholm, SS (No. 70), Jesús Sánchez, OF (No. 86), Edward Cabrera, RHP (No. 92)

The Marlins had baseball’s worst system just two years ago, but trades and strong Drafts have transformed it into one of the best, giving the franchise real hope for the future.

6. Chicago White Sox
2020 preseason rank: 11
2019 midseason rank: 9
2019 preseason rank: 4
Top 100 Prospects: Luis Robert, OF (No. 3), Andrew Vaughn, 1B (No. 17), Michael Kopech, RHP (No. 22), Nick Madrigal, 2B (No. 43)

The White Sox system is extremely top-heavy with four prospects in the upper half of the Top 100 (led by the soon-to-graduate Robert) and not much depth beyond them, though getting left-hander Garrett Crochet and right-hander Jared Kelley in the 2020 Draft should help.

7. Toronto Blue Jays
2020 preseason rank: 16
2019 midseason rank: 10
2019 preseason rank: 5
Top 100 Prospects: Nate Pearson, RHP (No. 9), Austin Martin, SS/OF (No. 20), Jordan Groshans, SS (No. 79)

The Blue Jays continued to draft well this year, adding Austin Martin, the No. 2-ranked player in the class, as well as righty CJ Van Eyk to a system that was already teeming with projectable up-the-middle prospects and power arms.

8. Baltimore Orioles
2020 preseason rank: 13
2019 midseason rank: 13
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Adley Rutschman, C (No. 4), Grayson Rodriguez, RHP (No. 38), Heston Kjerstad, OF (No. 64), DL Hall, LHP (No. 73)

Picking at, or near the top of, the Draft for a few years in a row has certainly helped. In addition to the first-round picks, the Orioles added six total Top 30 players in the 2020 Draft and added some depth with some sneaky-good Trade Deadline deals.

9. Arizona Diamondbacks
2020 preseason rank: 6
2019 midseason rank: 5
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Kristian Robinson, OF (No. 46), Alek Thomas, OF (No. 52), Daulton Varsho, C (No. 80), Geraldo Perdomo, SS (No. 89), Corbin Carroll, OF (No. 97)

Though their system is still top-heavy with position prospects, the D-backs have done an excellent job stockpiling quality pitching prospects in the past two seasons via shrewd trading and back-to-back strong Drafts. Pitchers now comprise half of their Top 30 list.

10. Kansas City Royals
2020 preseason rank: 17
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Bobby Witt Jr., SS (No. 11), Asa Lacy, LHP (No. 32), Brady Singer, RHP (No. 61), Daniel Lynch, LHP (No. 63)

The additions of Witt Jr. (No. 2 overall pick in 2019) and Lacy (No. 4 in ‘20), the top-ranked pitcher in this year’s class, give the Royals some star power up top, but it’s their all-around pitching depth — largely a product of their tremendous 2018 Draft haul — that has the system on the rise and poised for a turnaround at the highest level.

11. Los Angeles Dodgers
2020 preseason rank: 3
2019 midseason rank: 3
2019 preseason rank: 7
Top 100 Prospects: Gavin Lux, SS/2B (No. 2), Josiah Gray, RHP (No. 71), Keibert Ruiz, C (No. 77), Brusdar Graterol, RHP (No. 90)

No team combines winning in the big leagues and churning out quality young talent like the Dodgers, who have slipped a bit in the rankings because they graduated Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Dennis Santana and Edwin Ríos this summer. It’s the first time L.A. has not been in the top 10 since we started ranking farm systems in 2015.

12. Minnesota Twins
2020 preseason rank: 7
2019 midseason rank: 8
2019 preseason rank: 8
Top 100 Prospects: Royce Lewis, SS (No. 10), Alex Kirilloff, OF/1B (No. 33), Trevor Larnach, OF (No. 87), Jordan Balazovic, RHP (No. 93)

The Twins haven’t lost anyone, but they haven’t added anyone, either, being quiet at the Deadline and adding a solid, but not Top 100-caliber, first-round pick in Aaron Sabato in this year’s Draft.

13. San Francisco Giants
2020 preseason rank: 10
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Joey Bart, C (No. 15), Marco Luciano, SS (No. 36), Heliot Ramos, OF (No. 69), Hunter Bishop, OF (No. 75)

The Giants’ system is on the rise as the organization has transitioned from contending to rebuilding, acquiring high-ceiling talents via the Draft (Bart) and international market (Luciano) while adding depth via trades.

14. Cleveland Indians
2020 preseason rank: 12
2019 midseason rank: 12
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Nolan Jones, 3B (No. 45)

The Indians should climb toward the top of this list in coming years because they have a system full of young talents on the rise — nine of their 12 best prospects have yet to turn 21.

15. Atlanta Braves
2020 preseason rank: 8
2019 midseason rank: 7
2019 preseason rank: 3
Top 100 Prospects: Cristian Pache, OF (No. 14), Drew Waters, OF (No. 27), Ian Anderson, RHP (No. 41), Shea Langeliers, C (No. 74)

Kyle Wright hasn’t been able to establish himself in the big leagues and also graduated from prospect status, but the Braves still have five Top 100 guys.

16. Pittsburgh Pirates
2020 preseason rank: 15
2019 midseason rank: 15
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Nick Gonzales, SS/2B (No. 39), Ke’Bryan Hayes, 3B (No. 44), Oneil Cruz, SS (No. 68)

While he’s now hurt, Mitch Keller graduated off the Top 100 list and was replaced on the list by 2020 first-round pick Nick Gonzales, a big reason why the system is staying in just about the same spot.

17. Oakland Athletics
2020 preseason rank: 14
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Jesús Luzardo, LHP (No. 13), Sean Murphy, C (No. 34), A.J. Puk, LHP (No. 62)

Sean Murphy is going to graduate off soon and Luzardo isn’t too far behind, which will leave the A’s pretty thin at the very top of their system.

18. St. Louis Cardinals
2020 preseason rank: 18
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Dylan Carlson, OF (No. 18), Nolan Gorman, 3B (No. 50), Matthew Liberatore, LHP (No. 60)

The Cardinals have already graduated a pair of Top 30 prospects this year (Andrew Knizner, Génesis Cabrera) and are likely to lose several more over the final month of the regular season, but they also replenished their system with a strong 2020 Draft in which they landed high-ceiling preps such as Jordan Walker, Masyn Winn and Tink Hence, all of whom now rank among the organizations Top 10 prospects.

19. New York Yankees
2020 preseason rank: 22
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Jasson Dominguez, OF (No. 55), Clarke Schmidt, RHP (No. 95), Deivi García, RHP (No. 99)

The Yankees’ depth is stronger than their overall system ranking, and both García (impressive in his big league debut on Sunday) and Schmidt could play significant roles this season.

20. New York Mets
2020 preseason rank: 20
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Ronny Mauricio, SS (No. 66), Francisco Alvarez, C (No. 67), Andrés Giménez, SS (No. 91), Brett Baty, 3B (No. 100)

None of the Mets’ 2020 Draft picks cracked our midseason Top 100 Prospects list, but outfielder Pete Crow-Armstrong and righty J.T. Ginn, the club’s first- and second-round selections, could both be in the mix by this time next year, as could 2019 third-rounder Matthew Allan.

21. Los Angeles Angels
2020 preseason rank: 26
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Jo Adell, OF (No. 6), Brandon Marsh, OF (No. 83), Reid Detmers, LHP (No. 85)

Yes, Jo Adell is scuffling a bit in the big leagues right now, but relax, he’ll be just fine. The addition of Reid Detmers to a thin system provides a nice boost.

22. Cincinnati Reds
2020 preseason rank: 24
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: 9
Top 100 Prospects: Nick Lodolo, LHP (No. 51), Hunter Greene, RHP (No. 54), Austin Hendrick, OF (No. 88)

The Reds have picked in the top half of the first round for five straight years (four times in the top 10), starting with current big leaguer Nick Senzel. Three of them are in the Top 100, but there’s not that much behind them.

23. Philadelphia Phillies
2020 preseason rank: 19
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Alec Bohm, 3B/1B (No. 30), Spencer Howard, RHP (No. 35), Bryson Stott, SS (No. 94), Mick Abel, RHP (No. 96)

When Alec Bohm and Spencer Howard, both currently in the big leagues, graduate, it’s not going to leave much behind Stott and Abel, the club’s past two first-round selections.

24. Texas Rangers
2020 preseason rank: 21
2019 midseason rank: 14
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Josh Jung, 3B (No. 57), Sam Huff, C (No. 78)

This system continues to teem with high-risk, high-reward types who will need time to develop, though the Rangers have shifted their Draft focus and spent their last two first-rounders on proven college performers in Jung and second baseman Justin Foscue.

25. Boston Red Sox
2020 preseason rank: 25
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Jeter Downs, 2B/SS (No. 47), Triston Casas, 1B (No. 81)

The Red Sox relied heavily on their system for the homegrown players and trades that won them the 2018 World Series championship, but now they’re in the process of rebuilding their Minor League talent as their Major League club struggles mightily.

26. Chicago Cubs
2020 preseason rank: 23
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Brailyn Marquez, LHP (No. 72), Brennen Davis, OF (No. 82)

The Theo Epstein/Jed Hoyer regime has excelled at producing hitters while struggling to develop pitchers, though Marquez could be a potential frontline starter.

27. Houston Astros
2020 preseason rank: 28
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: 6
Top 100 Prospects: Forrest Whitley, RHP (No. 21)

The Astros emptied out what once was a formidable farm system with graduations and trades that won them one World Series and two pennants, and Whitley’s third consecutive lost season isn’t helping matters.

28. Colorado Rockies
2020 preseason rank: 27
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Zac Veen, OF (No. 56)

Brendan Rodgers recently graduated, leaving Veen as the lone Top 100 representative in a system that has provided some contributors, but not a ton of impact players, of late.

29. Milwaukee Brewers
2020 preseason rank: 30
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Garrett Mitchell, OF (No. 65)

The first Brewers prospect to appear on the Top 100 this year, Mitchell, who had some of the best all-around tools in this year’s Draft but lasted until the No. 20 pick, could end up being one of the 2020 Draft’s biggest steals, and the same can be said about second-rounder Freddy Zamora if the former Miami shortstop can return to his pre-injury form.

30. Washington Nationals
2020 preseason rank: 29
2019 midseason rank: unranked
2019 preseason rank: unranked
Top 100 Prospects: Carter Kieboom, SS/2B (No. 23)

The Nationals have tapped into their farm more than ever this year, assigning Kieboom to their Opening Day roster and promoting prospects such as Luis García, Wil Crowe and Seth Romero within the season’s first month. The organization won’t have a Top 100 prospect after Kieboom graduates, though right-handers Jackson Rutledge and Cade Cavalli, Washington’s first-round picks in 2019 and ‘20, both are future Top 100 candidates.